Jim Croce – Operator
Learn how to play Jim Croce – Operator note-for-note on guitar.
Difficulty level: Easy
Barre chords: Yes
Thumb over chords: Yes
Playing Style: Fingerpicked
Tuning: Standard
This lesson teaches the Jim Croce part. The lead guitar part isn’t covered, but unless you’re in a duo that isn’t going to matter.
The complete song lesson contains a lesson video, a performance play thru video, full tabs, chords and lyrics. You’ll receive a link to download the lesson which will download as a zip file of approximately 220 Mb containing all the lesson content.
Return to Individual Songs Page
Lesson Preview
Tab Preview
Chords & Songsheet Preview
Return to Individual Songs Page
You’ll receive at least two videos per song, one lesson and one performance-standard play-through. You’ll receive the chords/lyrics and guitar tabs as PDF files.
The videos are mp4 format and should play on PC’s, Macs and most mobile devices.
They will download as Zip files. If you don’t have a Zip program on your PC you’ll need to install one to open the file.
If you want to download to an iPad or iPhone you’ll need an app to do so, please read here to know more about it.
Browse Our Lessons by
Fingerstyle Instrumental pieces
Latest Products
Gene Hargis says
Jerry,
I like your arrangements. It’s been a while since I played seriously and these arrangement give me a good work out. Today I down loaded my 3rd song from your site, “Operator” by Jim Croce. I couldn’t find where to pay so I downloaded what I thought was the intro. Not so. I got the whole thing. I want to pay you for your work. What happened?
Gene Hargis
[email protected]
Jerry says
Hi Gene.
Thanks, but no need. There are a number of free lessons available on the site and this is one of them.
K. Killworth says
Thank you very much for putting these arrangements together. A friend requested that I learn Operator by Jim Croce, so I headed over to your website and there it is. All your music is very well explained and easy to follow.
Jonathan Perks says
Can you aend me the link to Jim Croce’s Operator, please? The links don’t seem to be working as they usually do on my Ipad.
DCJ says
Hi Jerry, What kind of guitar are you playing in this video? It looks to have a nice wide nut-width, which seem hard to find.
Jerry says
Hi. It’s a Santa Cruz Model F which has a nut width if 1-11/16
Matthew Sharlot says
I installed both Dropbox and Zip Viewer (free version), but when I tried to download Jim Croce’s Operator, the link in my inbox didn’t go anywhere.
Thanks for the youtube videos though!
Jerry says
Hi Matthew
It’s been downloaded many times on IPhones and iPads using zip viewer so I’m not sure what to say about that. If you have access to a pc you can download it with a click and transfer the PDFs and videos to your iPad.
Paul says
Hello
The download linked failed
Paul says
The link was an user error (me !!) Apologies for jumping to soon to comment. This said- wow – what a lesson. I’ve been wanting to tackle this song for some time now. Your explanation of material is fantastic and has got me a far way down the path that ever thought possible !! Thanks again.
Raymond D., Poston says
I truly appreciate both your musical talent and your teaching skills.
Have you ever considered adding some videos with the other guitar parts, i.e, Murray’s part on this, Red Shae’s and/or Terry Clement’so parts on Gordon Lightfoot’s songs?
I know I would be very grateful for those.
Thanks Jerry. Keep on pickin’ and sharring.
Anonymous says
Maury parts for Croce and Red/Terry parts for Lightfoot would be awesome!
Nigel says
Many thanks Jerry, a great song and excellent tutorial.
Luciano Diaz says
Keep getting invalid email address. TRIED TWO DIFFERENT ONES still no good.
Tim Baker says
Jerry, I have repeatedly tried to DL this lesson and keep getting an invalid email address message. My email is vailid. Anyone else experiencing this?
Ben says
There’s no problem for me… try another email you or your spouse has and maybe that will work.
Dodger says
Just shows that Brits can play pop guitar too! Great lessons Jerry and well presented. Keep it going, your efforts are well appreciated by the less talented and unworthy.
Bob says
You’ve got a great talent for teaching! Excellent job!
Kevin says
We gotta stop meeting like this Jerry!! :)
I am on a Croce kick lately (James Taylor kick is on hiatus), learned I Got A Name, and looked for my next song, Operator. Lo and behold, there is yet ANOTHER benevolent FREE offering by Jerry, this time for Operator!
Thanks eternal Jerry, and as always, I’ll show some love and purchase a few more tabs! What a gifted instructor, and a blessing for all!
I know I’ve already requested Classical Gas, and still will be first in line to buy it, but if I could also be so bold as to request Black Water by the Doobie Brothers, I will also be first to purchase as well. Doobies would be a great subject as there are some incredible fingerpicked pieces that your impeccable instruction would sure be a fine compliment to!! I’ll buy em all Jerry!! :)
Thanks again my talented cosmic friend!!
Kevin
Richard Wentzel says
Thanks for you great hints on playing Jim Croce’s Operator(That’s Not the Way it Feels). Your lessons are easy to follow and helpful!
Mark S says
Thanks so much Jerry , iv been looking for Jim’s Operator lesson for so long and came across your site , I could not ask for a better teacher very easy to understand and well explained , Thanks Mark
Davidg says
Nicely done. Just wanted hear your play through. That a good time for folk type songs. Also like .Can’t you See by Marshall Tucker. Would like to hear you play it.